Stay safe first
Do not climb your roof after a storm. Walk the yard perimeter to note visible damage — missing shingles, dents on gutters, or debris — and photograph everything from the ground.
Storm damage on your roof? We help you claim what you’re owed
Hail, wind, or fallen debris can damage your roof and trigger a legitimate insurance claim. We connect you with storm-restoration contractors who handle the inspection, documentation, and adjuster process, so you don’t leave money on the table.
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On this page:Damage cost estimatorTypes of storm damagePost-storm action guide
Damage Estimator
Estimate Your Storm Damage Repair Cost
Understanding your repair cost range helps you evaluate your insurance settlement and spot underpayment. Most storm-damaged asphalt roofs run $7,000–$14,000 to replace; metal and tile go higher. Adjust the inputs below for a ballpark, then start your free inspection to get a real contractor assessment.
500 sq ft5,000 sq ft
Estimated Repair / Replacement Cost
$6,000 – $11,250
- Materials$3,300 – $6,750
- Labor$1,800 – $3,375
- Permits & Disposal$900 – $1,125
- MaterialAsphalt Shingles
- Roof Size1,500 sq ft
Storm Damage
Types of Storm Damage: What to Look For
Not all storm damage looks the same. Here are the six types most likely to appear on an insurance claim, and what makes each one tricky to identify or document.
| Damage Type | Frequency | Timing | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail Damage | Most common | Acts immediately | Hailstones dent or crack shingles, bruise asphalt granules, and leave impact marks on flashing, gutters, and AC units. Often invisible from the ground — an inspector can spot it from the roof. |
| Wind Damage | Very common | Acts during storm | High winds lift, curl, or tear off shingles entirely, exposing the underlayment. Even 50 mph gusts can break the seal strip and create future blow-off risk. |
| Fallen Debris / Tree Damage | Varies widely | Immediate impact | Branches and trees can punch through the deck, crack rafters, and create large open holes. Typically the most visible storm damage — and often the costliest to repair. |
| Ice Dam / Snow Load | Northern states | Winter / spring | Ice dams form at the eave when snowmelt refreezes, forcing water back under shingles. Heavy snow load can bow the deck and strain trusses. Claims often arise in spring after ice clears. |
| Wind-Driven Rain | Often hidden | Weeks to months | Rain forced horizontally under lifted shingles or compromised flashing causes interior leaks and mold. Damage may not surface until well after the storm — document promptly. |
| Structural / Uplift | Severe events | Tornado / hurricane | Tornadoes and Category 1+ hurricanes can strip entire sections of a roof or lift the deck off the wall plate. Requires full structural assessment before re-occupancy. |
Post-Storm Action Guide
What to Do Right After a Storm
The steps you take in the first 48 hours after a storm can make or break your insurance claim. These six actions are what public adjusters and storm-restoration contractors recommend every time.
Document before cleanup
Take date-stamped photos and video of all visible damage before any repairs or cleanup. Insurers need evidence of the storm event, not a post-cleanup roof.
Stop active leaks with a tarp
Place a temporary tarp over any breach to prevent interior water damage. Keep receipts — most policies reimburse reasonable emergency mitigation costs.
File your claim promptly
Every policy has a deadline to report storm damage — often 12 months but some states allow less. File early; late claims give insurers grounds to deny.
Request a storm-restoration contractor for the adjuster meeting
Have a contractor who specializes in insurance claims present when the adjuster comes out. They know what to point to and can dispute underpayment on the spot.
Understand ACV vs RCV before you settle
Actual Cash Value (ACV) deducts depreciation; Replacement Cost Value (RCV) pays the full rebuild cost. Never accept an ACV payment if your policy includes recoverable depreciation.
Process
From Storm Hit to Claim Closed
The form takes about 90 seconds. A storm-restoration contractor typically reaches out within an hour during business hours.
1
Get a free storm damage inspection
Tell us your zip code and a little about the storm. We connect you with a storm-restoration contractor who inspects your roof at no cost to you.
2
Document damage for your insurer
Your contractor photographs impact marks, missing shingles, and structural issues — creating the evidence package your adjuster needs to approve the claim.
3
Navigate the insurance claim
Understand your ACV vs RCV payout, deductible, and recoverable depreciation before you sign anything. Your contractor attends the adjuster meeting and handles supplements.
4
Get your roof restored
Once the claim is approved, your storm-restoration contractor completes the work — coordinating directly with your insurer so you only pay your deductible.
Start here
What this site is (and isn’t)
An honest resource for homeowners navigating a storm-damage insurance claim. We aggregate NWS/NOAA storm records, state insurance statutes, adjuster guidance, and route inspection requests through a lead partner to storm-restoration contractors.
When a storm hits, the clock starts on your insurance claim. Adjusters move fast, policies have deadlines, and the difference between an ACV and RCV settlement can be tens of thousands of dollars. We built this site so homeowners understand the claim process — ACV vs RCV, deductibles, recoverable depreciation, adjuster meetings, supplements, and state-specific insurance law — before a storm chaser or adjuster shows up at the door. Everything is sourced from named government records (NWS/NOAA storm data, state insurance department statutes, building codes) with links back to the originals, or labeled as directional.
What we are: a small editorial team (no licensed contractors, engineers, or adjusters on staff) that researches and publishes storm-damage and insurance-claim guidance, plus a lead generation service that connects your inspection request to a storm-restoration contractor through a lead partner. What we are not: a contractor, a public adjuster, an engineer, or a substitute for a licensed local professional who has actually looked at your roof. For the full disclosure on how inspection requests are handled and what to verify before signing, see how we handle your inspection request.
Storm damage resources — researched before the adjuster calls
State storm damage guides
One page per state with NWS/NOAA storm history, state insurance claim deadlines, contractor licensing statutes, and a damage cost calculator tuned to local rebuild rates. 50 states live now.
ACV vs RCV — what your policy actually pays
Actual Cash Value deducts depreciation; Replacement Cost Value pays the full rebuild. Most homeowners don’t know which they have until it’s too late. We explain both, plus recoverable depreciation and how to collect it.
Roof insurance claim process
The seven-step claim workflow, state-by-state filing deadlines (FL gives you 12 months, CO gives you 1 year), when to bring in a public adjuster, and the red flags that mean you should walk away from a contractor or a settlement offer.
Shingle matching rules by state
Every state’s rule on whether the insurer must replace the whole roof when a hail-damaged slope can’t be color-matched. Statute citations for all 50 states, direct links to the state guide.
Top metros we cover
Storm damage guides by city
Metro-specific hail and wind storm history, insurance claim deadlines, and storm-restoration contractor coverage for the largest cities we cover.
Storm damage guides by state
Find your state
Each state has its own insurance claim filing deadlines, contractor licensing rules, and storm history. Pick yours for statute-level detail, NWS/NOAA hail and wind records, and a damage cost calculator tuned to local rates.
- AlabamaAL
- AlaskaAK
- ArizonaAZ
- ArkansasAR
- CaliforniaCA
- ColoradoCO
- ConnecticutCT
- DelawareDE
- FloridaFL
- GeorgiaGA
- HawaiiHI
- IdahoID
- IllinoisIL
- IndianaIN
- IowaIA
- KansasKS
- KentuckyKY
- LouisianaLA
- MaineME
- MarylandMD
- MassachusettsMA
- MichiganMI
- MinnesotaMN
- MississippiMS
- MissouriMO
- MontanaMT
- NebraskaNE
- NevadaNV
- New HampshireNH
- New JerseyNJ
- New MexicoNM
- New YorkNY
- North CarolinaNC
- North DakotaND
- OhioOH
- OklahomaOK
- OregonOR
- PennsylvaniaPA
- Rhode IslandRI
- South CarolinaSC
- South DakotaSD
- TennesseeTN
- TexasTX
- UtahUT
- VermontVT
- VirginiaVA
- WashingtonWA
- West VirginiaWV
- WisconsinWI
- WyomingWY